Renewable Energy Systems
Here you'll find tools to help you evaluate your options for generating your own electricity with a small renewable energy system. System technologies include microhydropower, small solar electric, and small wind electric.
Wind
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Wind Energy Project Model
Evaluates the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for grid-connected and off-grid wind energy systems. From RETScreen® International
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State Wind Resource Maps
Help determine whether a location has adequate wind resources for a small wind electric system. From the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Powering America Program
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Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States
Estimates wind energy resources for the United States and its territories. From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Solar
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PVWatts: A Performance Calculator for Grid-Connected PV Systems
Find performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems. From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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Photovoltaics Project Model
Evaluates solar electricity production, life-cycle costs, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems. Includes an online help manual. From RETScreen® International
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Solar Maps
Provides an interactive map of solar resources across the United States. Also includes month-by-month resource maps. From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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Solar-Estimate.org
Estimate the price, savings, and system size of solar energy systems to produce electricity, heat your water, or heat your spa or pool. A non-profit project of Energy Matters LLC, developed with support from several non-profits and government agencies.
Biomass
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Theoretical Ethanol Yield Calculator
Calculate the theoretical yield of ethanol of a potential feedstock for biomass ethanol production. From the U.S. Department of Energy
Clean Electricity
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Power Profiler: How Clean is the Electricity I Use?
Find out what fuels are used to generate your electricity and how it compares to the national average. From the Environmental Protection Agency
Microhydropower Systems
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Hydropower Resource Assessment
Features evaluation software and resource assessment reports. From the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
Software
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Homer
Evaluates design options for both off-grid and grid-connected renewable energy power systems. From the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Tools Software Directory
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Whole Building Analysis for Renewable Energy
Educates novices on how to produce their own energy using solar energy, wind energy, or both. From the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Tools Software Directory
Related Information
For more information on evaluating potential renewable energy systems, see the following sections:
